The beginning of the third week of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon saw the NBC host dip while his ABC rival Jimmy Kimmel Live! shot up. In metered markets results, Kimmel drew a 2.5/6 rating last night compared to Fallon’s 4.2/11. While the NBC show was No. 1 in the 11:35 PM slot, Kimmel’s results mark a 19% rise over last Monday’s 2.1/6 and the best the ABC show has done on a Monday against Fallon since he took over The Tonight Show on February 17. With NBC’s powerful primetime of The Voice and The Blacklist helping to lead him in, the first show of Fallon’s third week hosting The Tonight Show slipped 6% from February 24’s 4.5/12 MM rating. Still Fallon’s show last night was ahead of the 2.9/7 that Conan O’Brien got for the first show of his third week hosting Tonight on June 15, 2009. Last night’s Tonight Show also topped the 3.6/9 that Jay Leno pulled on the comparable night of his 2010 return to the late night franchise on March 15 that year.

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With booking as the battlefield, the War of the late night Jimmys continued to rage with both Fallon and Kimmel kicking off the week with high profile guests. By that measure, the ABC late night host beat Fallon’s reunion with his former SNL Weekend Update co-anchor Tina Fey by having scandal ridden Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on. The besieged Canadian politician showed up onJimmy Kimmel Live! after a weekend of hype and a cameo on the late night host’s annual Post-Oscars special. As well as having The Muppets on too, Kimmel also milked the Oscars more with a series of red carpet interviews from Sunday night with various celebs.

The new kid on the block did not have such a good night. The first broadcast of the second week of Late Night With Seth Meyers saw the show get a 2.0/7 metered market result. That’s a 23% drop from his debut result of 2.6/9 on February 24 and a 15% fall from Friday’s show. However, the former SNLer can take some comfort that his downward turn was not as harsh as what his predecessor suffered. The first show of Fallon hosting Late Night got a 1.6/6 on March 9, 2009. That was a 30% drop from the 2.3/8 of his March 2, 2009 debut on the show.

186 Comments

Wayne From Indiana • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Wow, Fallon still doing extremely well. He’s leaps and bounds ahead of where Conan and Leno were in their third week. You can couch this anyway you like, Deadline, but Fallon is exceeding expectations and maintaining his ratings.

billabong • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

quit drinking the SNL kool aid….its not doing “extremely well” …a lot of people checked it out for the first week, now most people are seeing how juvenile his skits are and jumping ship…hey, just watch the good skits on youtube….

sonn • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Thank you. I think it sucks. In fact they both do!!!! Too much giggling and giggling. They both need to grow the flip up!! UGH!!!

Fallon insists on keeping his childish antics from SNL. I was always an SNL but this forum isn’t the same. I have already gotten tired of watching mindless air guitars, and stupid dancing routines that could be seen on any children’s show. He has one of Hollywood’s greatest on, Annette Bening, and his creative staff came up with a college game of beer chugging? Something tells me I will never watch a full episode of this, if I ever bother to go back again. Disappointment, big big disappointment.

rick • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

I totally agree with you his immature generation have such poor taste in everything but especially in comedy, silly tasteless skits is what he specializes in.

DJ • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

“Immature generation” is spot on. I mean, these cro-magnons find Will Farrell and Kimmy Fallon ‘hilarious.’ I rest my case.

FatDrunkAndStupid • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Oh give it a rest. Nobody in any generation ever found Jimmy Fallon “hilarious”. Farrell by contrast, was sometimes a little funny, but again, nobody in any generation would compare him to Belushi or Phil Hartman. Fallon is host because a bunch of boomer generation suits at NBC are under the mistaken impression he’s what constitutes “hip” to the younger generation.

Marcos Rancheros • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Fallon’s band sucks too. The theme song is terrible. I ffwd through as much as the opening song as possible. Can the band, steal the drummer’s hair pick and start anew. Seth’s band is much better. I like that Fred A is there. But all late night shows are very weak. At least Leno is gone. He was the worst at delivering a joke. All of them only get less funny when they obsess on the GOP.

Ian • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Uh, it’s The freakin’ Roots, dude. What the hell?
I’m curious how Letterman is doing through all this.

gzulu • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

The Roots are way overrated. Always have been. Their most successful stuff is mediocre at best. Having the Fallon gig is the best thing that could have ever happened for them. They had no future making records.

DJ • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

“Fallon is exceeding expectations ..”

Well, that is completely inverse of every single shred of data from the last month! Fallon benefitted from being sandwiched between primtetime and late night Olympics coverage (which for the most part was a disaster — the Sochi Figure Skating games, but I digressed ..). Since then, it has been a very rapid slide. Fallon’s childish ‘humor’ will not stand. What a disgraceful slide NBC has made since Johnny Carson retired. Kimmel isn’t ‘all that’ either, but he will continue to trounce Fallon .. at least, of the few remaining viewers of network late night programming. And the constant pumping by National Barack Channel for the administration isn’t helping .. in fact, it’s hurting.

Chuck • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

LOL. You are delusional. You won’t really know how well Fallon is doing til he’s been on several months. He is just doing another bad SNL show as far as I can see. And NBC has to make guests commit to only going on NBC talk shows? Outrageous! Sounds like desperation to me.

Jack Black • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Jimmy Failin (sic) is not doing “extremely” well. Do you notice that as they boast about how “well” he is doing, they will only compare him to his contemporary losers. No one is comparing his rating to Jay Leno’s ratings beyond the first week when everyone checked in to see what was up. I watched a few shows that first week and have not watched one since. If Fallon is extremely anything it would be extremely boring, extremely childish, and extremely left wing. At least now I have more free time in the evenings to do other things besides sit in front of the TV.

The only reason jimmy fallon “appears” to be doing so well is because he uses justin timberlake and stupid skits with him in it and other tricks to mask how really stupid he is. if you listen to him interview he looks so lost and awkward trying to grasb for attention and things to say.

Generally people that are goofy and silly are really dumb, trying to get attention.

Hollywood would be a very interesting place if cocaine did not exist for these people. LOL

Terrence Linder • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Here’s why, JIMMY KIMMEL IS FUNNY! A little on the wierd side, but, funny! That’s how you do a monologue! When kimmel does his monologue, it’s like years and years of the best experience!

Sammy • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

I was a Leno fan and thought Kimmel was not funny, albeit admittedly based on his general vibe since I hadn’t watched a single episode of his show. With Leno gone, I thought of trying Kimmel out since I couldn’t stand Letterman, the sour puss or Fallon, the silly, insecure teenager trapped in a man’s body; I was pleasantly surprised! Kimmel is indeed funny; his monologue always makes me laugh and his interviews are often very entertaining. That’s the late night show format I prefer; i.e. proper jokes and proper interviews. What Fallon does is SNL light, only less funny/much more irritating, and Letterman is an acquired taste, to say the least.

So, as of now, Kimmel FTW!

George • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Sammy has it right on target… Go Kimmel

Ruben • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Well stated, I agree Jimmy Fallon comes across as “the silly, insecure teenager trapped in a man’s body” is right on! I guess NBC decided to corner that market on silly teenagers. Ones that most likely have have to go to school the next day and don’t have the buying power of those Leno would appeal to.

Victor • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

I’m sorry all the old farts pushing 50 who post on deadline can’t understand the humor of Jimmy Fallon. I’m sure you all find your laughs on C-span.

Jenny • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

You are a moron. I am 26 and I find Fallon ridiculous. Am I an old fart?
He is stuck in his SNL metality and it will not work in this time slot.
NBC made a huge mistake but they needed to get rid of Leno because he wasn’t left enough for them and they needed to have a home base for Obama’s for the 2014 elections.

Mani • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

The silly, insecure teenager trapped in a man’s body? Really? Fallon beats Kimmel, Letterman, and Leno. He’s much more fun than the rest of them and he’s more genuine as well. I can’t understand people not liking him. I mean, what’s not to love about him? He’s adorable,funny, cute, dorky, clumsy, and can make you smile before you go to sleep. If he’s insecure, so be it…atleast he’s not parading around feigning confidence and cockiness.

Linda • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Well, it’s probably not that people don’t like Fallon. Just that he giggles & gushes over guests so much…to the point of over-doing it. Plus, he describes every guest the same way: “THE best, my all-time fave, THE most talented, etc”. Not everyone can be your best friend. Besides, he still hasn’t learned how to comfortably do a monologue yet. Fallon needs someone to tell him to let the guests talk more, too. Dave’s become a bit crabby the last few years, yeah….and Kimmel’s not too bad as long as we don’t get hit with Guillermo over-load.

Carin • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Jimmy Fallon is not funny! Just because he does impressions and sings and dance and giggles like a little girl doesn’t mean he is FUNNY! People watch his show for the same reason you just described because they think he is “cute and innocent” well wake up! It does not mean he is funny and his interviews suck! Jimmy Kimmel on the other IS funny… sorry he isn’t “cute” enough you. Jimmy F’s ratings aren’t gonna last mark my words. He’s a newbie right now so everyone is on his d**k but just watch those ratings slip and Kimmel’s rise.

FTCS • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Oscars and Rob Ford are about as good as it gets for ratings. Fallon need not worry, but it does appear that Kimmel is being groomed to become an/the Oscar host…and, it all stays in the ABC family.

We shall see…

eligain@hotmail.com • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

How is Kimmel being groomed to be an Oscar host? He’s been doing his post Oscar show for 11 years! That has to be the longest “grooming” in the history of showbiz! BTW, I think he would be a great Oscar host.

Prax • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

No, its literally because he had one of the biggest news stories from the last six months and what carried over from the oscars. This has nothing to do with how funny kimmel is.

truth • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

And welcome Leno back out of retirement. The guy is so pathetic and empty hes begging for his job back as we speak.

Art Fawcett • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Seth Myers. Cancelled before the end of the year. Leno back next season. Jimmy,out..

Late Night & Bored • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

For Seth to have a shot, he has to ditch Fred Armisen. He’s a smug jerk with playing with a group of hipster band cast-offs.

Linda • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Agree about Armisen. Not that he’s exactly smug. Just that he’s too quirky & difficult to relate to or “get”. The band comes off as one-dimensional and amateurish…and a bit tinny-sounding, as well.

Carin • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Jimmy Kimmel or Jimmy Fallon… because I like J.K.

Bubba • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Jay Leno will never come back. NBC wants younger hosts for the late shows for the younger generations of people that are watching. IMHO I think it’s time a female like Tina Fey or Amy Poehler is brought in. Either of them would be a far better host than Seth Meyers.

Kimmel – great monologues, really knows how to deliver a joke, getting much better at interviews. Bits are getting stronger as well.

Looks like we’re going to have a real Late Night battle again. We’re lucky to have them both.

Letterman… still a legend.

eligain@hotmail.com • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

I totally agree about Kimmel and Letterman but Fallon is not a “super talented sketch performer”.
He usually ruined the sketches he was in on SNL by breaking up and his stint as Weekend Update anchor was unremarkable and he really wasn’t missed when he left.

Don • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Wait. So Fallon drop-kicked Kimmel by 70% and somehow it’s a negative spin? He destroyed him. Again. As usual.

Mackenzie B. • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Where did you come up with that nonsensical figure? Have you ever studied fractions? 4.2/11 is less then 2.5/6. Kimmel beat Fallon in ratings by a few % points.

Tom • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Dude, those aren’t fractions. They’re two different metrics used to measure audience size. In both metrics, Fallon’s audience is almost twice as large as Kimmel’s. Sheesh!

James • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Wow. That is not how ratings work… Such intelligent.

rico • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Kimmel is funny, Fallon is silly.

I David • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Unfortunately, the kid style SNL approach of Fallon does not fit me, carry over to the adult mentality of the late night talk show viewer over all. Leno and Kimmel are adults, Fallon is still over reacting to his adolescence. I don’t see a Peter pan host holding late night viewers of the Leno/Carson time slot for very long. It’s not accurate to compare ratings unless they all fell just after Oscars night so these comparisons are not digestible and are easily ignored as moot.

billabong • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

your right and most people over the age of 35 that i know say the same thing…just a goofy kid with dumb skits…won’t be long now…

Patty • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Most of us over 35 know the word is “you’re” not your. But I guess it’s because I’m a silly fallon fan.

kevin • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Most of us under 24 know when to capitalize. It is Fallon, not fallon.

duilama • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Most mature people don’t care for typos on internet. They read beyond them.

Ginger • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Patty, most of us over and under 35 don’t care about minor typos. But if you want to be that way you should at least capitalize his name since you are “a silly Fallon fan.”

Kimmon • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

try: “.
not: .”

Realratings • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Interesting how this actually makes it look like it’s a competitive time period, when it’s not. How about the fact that versus the last time Fallon aired opposite an original Kimmel (which was last Thursday), Fallon is up 29% in the actual sales demo but Kimmel is down 25% despite the big Oscar push on Sunday? Or the fact that Seth Myers is also up 29% and is doing the same rating as Kimmel (.9 A18-49)in a time period that is an hour later?

Walter Freeman • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

TL;DR: “It’s just a flesh wound!”

DaChief • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

They added the “Tonight Show” name to Fallon’s show instead if adding Fallon to the Tonight Show. It is essentially the Fallon Show borrowing the tonight show name. As soon as he started with his political agenda and comments in his jokes, which he is not joking about, I was done. I don’t watch late night tv to hear political banter. I get bombarded enough with that on the news and talk shows. I am looking for entertainment and humor. I will watch when the classic format, theme song and spirit of the Tonight Show returns. I didn’t watch Fallon before but gave it a couple of weeks to see if I could adjust. I couldn’t. Pretty sad they dismantled the true Tonght Show.

Matt Famas • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Plain haters is all I see. Get outta here.

Anonymous • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Yeah the days of Carson are over

Anonymous • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

I agree!!!!!

Dave Ellis • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

If anything, Fallon’s Tonight show more resembles the earlier incarnations of the Tonight show than Leno ever did.

Steve Allen, Jack Parr and Johnny Carson included a lot of sketch comedy that Leno never did. Fallon is bringing the show back to it’s roots.

robert johnson • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Johnny Carson nor Jay Leno ever let their political opinions or beliefs into the Tonight Show. jimmy fallon and nbc will figure this out eventually it’s not comedy.

Lynn • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

In Lenos first 10 years he did a lot of sketch comedy! Remember Beyonda,Iron Jay and a few others,until NBC became stupid like they are now!

Art Estrada • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

That was a hard hitting interview Jimmy Kimmel had with Rob Ford. Funny but serious. Kimmel was a over him like that cheap red tie Ford had on. But I have to say Ford took his blows like a Champ. Can’t wait to see Kimmel interview conservative republican Governor Rick Perry when Kimmel takes his show to Austin Tx. Should be interesting.

Tad • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Fallon appeals to NY and LA. Kimmel appeals to the whole country. The peacock missed the boat on this one… again.

J.P. • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Fallon is huge in SanFran and with the silicon valley crowd as well, given what a welcome place his set has been for players in the tech and social media industry. The hipsters just love his shtick, which is just one more reason the rest of the country doesn’t really care for him.

Bu • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Fallon doesn’t appeal to LA at all, or most of the country for that matter. Most of us are looking for an adult host not Fallon who is too childlike and immature to be the host of The Tonight Show. I’m sorry, but Fallon, who seems like a nice guy just doesn’t cut it. It’s Kimmel for my crowd in lA now that Jay is gone.

MC • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Smart, young, hip, and rap band are okay for a breath of fresh air – for a minute, but it’s the adults that have the money to buy the sponsor’s products. Mr. And Ms. Average Citizen have traditionally been with the Tonight Show because it has always retained some elements of the vibe that was before to appeal to all age groups and cultures across the country. I like to see a good interview, not childish comic sketches and mindless political partisonship. And why do these shows always insist we have a comedian as a host. Letterman is boring, Conan will interupt the guest for a cheap laugh, Fallon has had too much caffine, and Kimmel’s only qualification is that he’s stupid like the rest of them, only more so. Carson may have been a comic too but he knew when to get serious with an interview. None of these heads today know how to have a conversation and are afraid to have a period of more than eight seconds without having to go for a laugh. Sorry, BORING! I’ll wait for the real Tonight Show to return. In the meantime I’ll catch up on my sleep.

Snowden white • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

All Kimmel needs to do is slowly chip away at Fallon’s audience…there’s something uncomfortable about Fallon’s show…. it all feels so forced. In comparison, Kimmel feels laid back and cozy. However, that may change as Fallon grows more comfortable in his new role as Tonight Show host. The pressure must be unbelievable.

Seattle Cougfan • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Tuned in to Tonight Show last night for the first time since Leno left, and I gotta tell ya…it SUCKED! This show will be a surefire ratings loser with Fallon at the helm. Sure do miss ya, Jay!

Lynn • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

I agree! Watched first one and havent watched since.Lost without Leno!

A Fan • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Well, the train wreck that is Rob Ford was bound to generate ratings, just like when Leno got Hugh Grant right after his prostitute escapades in the 90s. In Leno’s case it marked the turn when more people started watching him than Letterman. In this case, I hope Fallon has nothing real to worry about. The Tonight Show is just a lot more fun with Jimmy Fallon than Kimmel’s show.

Mani • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Hell yeah! Kimmel sucks.

Gabriel • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Well, Fallon is still way ahead Kimmel

aslisa • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Jimmy Fallon is too corporate, too P.C., and plays it too safe…that’s not funny. Jimmy Kimmel is edgier and not afraid of offending groups because he manages to offend pretty much everybody, which makes Kimmel must-watch late night viewing.

Kevin • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Damn straight!!

Ian • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

You could argue those qualities are exactly what made Leno more popular than Letterman in the end though, even as The Late Show got all the Emmy nods and critical acclaim. And Fallon at least is genuinely likable – not much chance of him pulling stunts like Leno did behind the scenes.
I prefer Letterman and Kimmel to Fallon, but he’s got the right instincts to do well in this era.

Lynn • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Leno was more popular than Letterman because he was funnier!

Mike lira • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

I agree!! Kimmell is top of the mark. Fallon is not my brand of humor with his goofy sketches.

Kevin • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

What sketches? All he does is sing and tell “jokes” in that high-pitched monotone voice of his.

Bob Johnson • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

The content of Fallon’s show bring out his strengths. Although at times the interviews sound like, “you’re great, how can I be like you,” it’s all about business. The ratings the way they are, Fallon will stay in the lead due to the fact that he is not offending ANYONE. After watching his late night show, I can see a change, but I do not believe the change is coming from him, it’s coming from higher up. Three weeks in and Fallon has proven the way he’s doing it (not targeting anyone) is working. Keep doing what you’re doing Fallon and until then, I will PROUDLY be able to say I have never watched Kimmel, oh ya, or Letterman, but who’s counting him anyways.

LDR • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Many people, myself included, tuned in to The Tonight Show With Jay Leno to laugh at Politics and Politicians…he was an Equal Opportunity Offender when it came to Democrats and Republicans. Fallon is starting to do more Political Jokes. Way too early to tell anything about The Ratings.

Chc • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Where Leno was after his third week after his return after that whole Conan mess. Means nothing Leno still trumps Fallon

Pat • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Jay Leno was the best. I couldn’t wait for his show to start at night. I tried to watch Fallon the first week but the show is too silly. I extremely enjoyed the interviews of the various celebrities with Jay. Fallon doesn’t have a “talk show” he has a ridiculously goofy variety show that neither I nor my friends and family enjoy!!!! I now watch Letterman

John Soto Jr. • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Mark my word, it will be only a matter of time when we hear of NBC regreting their desion for removing Jay Leno out of the Tonight Show. Don’t be surprised NBC begging Jay Leno to come back when Jimmy Fallon’s ratings drop in the months to come. The problem with Jimmy is that he is and will never be fit for The Tonight Show, his style was good for the Late Night Show and that is it. It just sad that NBC is so ruining the francise of The Tonight Show. When Jay Leno took over The Tonight Show from Johnny Carson back in 1992 it was evident that Jay was ready because for those who forget, Jay Leno was the guest host for almost six years when Johnny would take a break from the show so Jay was already funny and experience when he got the Tonight Show. I think Jimmy Fallon style of hosting is not all that great like Jay Leno, and Jimmy Kimmel. I know Jay is already 63 years old and some would say he was too old and didn’t relate with today’s younger generation but than look at Johnny Carson, he hosted the Tonight Show up until his mid to late 60’s and back in the 1990’s as a young youth, I would watch Johnny Carson and to me he was funny and a class act. Some would say Jay Leno was not relating the younger generation but Jay’s ratings speak for themselves, he was number 1 in late night for 22 years. I know in the long run Jay was going to have to give up the Tonight Show but NBC should of keep Jay till at least to he got to 30 years like Johnny Carson did. I bet anyone here if Johnny Carson would of have wanting to continue to host the Tonight Show till the late 90’s and early 2000’s, do you think NBC would of remove Johnny Carson then? I think not so my question to NBC is, why try to fix it if it wasn’t broken. What NBC should of done was convince Jay Leno to take breaks and vacations from the Tonight Show and brought in a premenent guest host and groomed and taylored that induvidual, that way when Jay Leno was ready to retire on his terms, than that guest host would of been ready for the Tonight Show. I just hope NBC has a back up plan when the current Tonight Show ratings drops even more.

eligain@hotmail.com • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Unfortunately NBC did want Carson out by 1992 and with Leno and his manager’s help. pushed him out after they made a secret deal with Leno behind Carson’s back after Leno threatened to go to CBS.

Leno turned out not to be ready when he first took over because he had only guest hosted for 5 years. He had never run or produced a show of his own. Which is why his ratings tanked for 3 years.

rhober8@aol.com • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Exactly and it took the affiliate switch of 1995 caused by FOX’s acquisition of AFC Football where CBS lost many of its key affiliates for Leno to beat Letterman (it had nothing to do with the Hugh Grant show). In 1995 Letterman’s show was suddenly hard to find and Leno’s rating went up by default.

Mackenzie B. • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Maybe the stations where you live made it hard to find Letterman but certainly not where I and most people lived. Letterman was always easy to find unlike Conan today where you have to really search for. Leno was always funnier in his monologue and became very popular for his on the street interviews testing people’s knowledge and his newspaper ads segment and his hilarious big head skits as scientist and football player. Leno simply was funnier then Letterman so it was only a matter of time that Leno was going to overtake Dave in the ratings. But I’m sure there’s many more alibis Letterman fans will muster up for his weaker ratings.

Elliot • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

If you look at the facts, Letterman was dominating the ratings over Leno for 2 years then bam, almost overnight Letterman’s ratings dipped and he went from 1st to 3rd behind Nightline. This happened right when the affiliate switch happened. Also, Leno’s ratings never went up but Letterman’s ratings went down. So Leno didn’t get more popular of take over Letterman’s viewers, Letterman just lost a large chunk of viewers right at the time of the affiliate switch. Letterman wasn’t harder to find in my area either but in many key markets like Detroit and Atlanta the CBS affiliates went from highly rated to low rated UHF channels which killed Letterman’s lead in. In fact CBS’s ratings were so decimated after the switch that many articles at the time wrote that it was a testament to Letterman’s popularity that his show despite the dip in ratings is staying competitive. Because of the affiliate swtch CBS went from the #1 network to the #4 network overnight!

b a stanley • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

The Jay Leno Show always made me feel good. The humor was topical and biting, but delivered by a person I trusted as fair. After that, I loved Jimmy Fallon and his silliness. I took the time to introduce JF to my older sisters because I thought he was so amusing. They complimented each other nicely.

i JUST MISS lENO IN THAT TIME SLOT, LEADING ME INTO LATE NIGHT TV. i GUESS iT HAS COME TIME FOR ME TO GET ON THE ICE FLOW WITH ALL THE OTHER OVER 55-YEAR-OLDS, mY HUSBAND AND i HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THIS MESSAGE FOR SOME YEARS NOW,

jAY. COME BACK TO US AND MAKE US HAPPY ONCE AGAIN.
Love his classroom renditions of popular songs but his overly personal bromance with Justin Timerlake is a yawn the 10th time around. No matter how much I love Timberlake.

But, I am missing that link of well – considered fairness in that time slot. I have even given David Letterman several tries and found him not so bad. This is something I would have never considered before.

Ken C • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

You’ve got it right on the head! Fallon should’ve stayed where he was and NBC should’ve had someone move in slowly. But who?? When Jay & Jimmy were in place both demographics of buyers and ages were addressed. Those with the most buying power were probably with Jay. I imagine they’re for the most part somewhere else now or soon will be. As far as Jimmy’s ratings being high, I think that’s because his original viewers moved from his earlier time-slot with him. He probably also gained viewers that turned the TV off before because of when he was on originally and now he’s on at a good time for them. I’m sure his ardent viewers will stay with him for the most part but I really think his ratings will simply diminish as time goes on. Jimmy’s got to start to move away from the SNL style of entertainment that ends up being filled with giggles and childish ways. I know I, personally, get tired quickly of it and change channels. In fact, when Jay was on my wife and I would immediately change channels as soon as Jay was over and didn’t even let Jimmy’s show begin. When didn’t want to see any of the SNL format. Now, my wife likes to see who’s going to be on and then we decide if we’re going to “try” to watch a bit of the show. But, if the SNL format gets to heavy we simply leave the channel and forget about who’s on. If we’re doing that I can only imagine how many others are doing the same. In the long and short of it I hope NBC gets their act together. I really think Jimmy’s got a good format but not for this time-slot and not this target audience. It’s been successful for him and he’s had good ratings so why should he change it — or the time-slot? I hope it works out for the best for ALL of us — even those of us that prefer to watch NBC will watch the competition if we have to.

Joe • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Jay Leno sucked, Fallon’s approach is fresh and he is a genius at creating viral material. Kimmel is good I guess, definitely has some fun things.

Victor • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

The Thing is Fallon is still new, he’s still coming into the swing of things in the time slot and he’s killing it in ratings. Anyway you slice it he’s going to keep on doing great in the ratings because if people didn’t like him it would start to show more by now. Conan had much less viewers when he took the tonight show and it showed quickly. Jimmy is easy to watch and laugh at and the celebs seem to really like him too.

Lynn • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

I bet you like instagram and taking selfies,also!

Robin H. • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Fallon is an acquired taste which I have not acquired. He’s very immature. I didn’t like everything Leno did, but I think letting him go was a mistake.

joblue • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

WHATEVER…the numbers tell it all…

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2,055,742 likes · 495,217 talking about this

Late Show with David Letterman
597,940 likes · 20,173 talking about this

dan • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Because “likes” on “Facebook” equate to tv ratings? Not really. You might want to investigate how this whole thing works a little bit more closely.

How are CoCo’s “likes” on “Facebook”? How’s that working out for him? Fallon’s new car smell will be short lived, especially with the clicky clicky Adderall kids. Not sure what the comparison to Letterman is doing here either, joblue. Fallon’s concern is going to be Kimmel. He’s got potential to appeal to middle America a lot more than Fallon. Fallon’s schtick is vaudevillian, which, as it stands is not bad per se, but it is not what people expect under the brand banner of the Tonight Show. Fallon will also lose in the long run against Kimmel for two distinct reasons:

1. L.A. is a lot closer to L.A. than N.Y., and the bulk of your movie stars are there. Don’t try the absurd “but we have airplanes” retort either. Once Fallon has a couple thousand miles on him, people aren’t going to be jumping to get a chance to be on, and long term, it will wear thin.

2. And perhaps most importantly: stars want to be on to plug their latest projects. Their agents want them to be on to plug their latest projects. Fallon, as of right now, has been showing that he likes to have a gushy schmoozing skit with some star, to the extent that the clip of the skit becomes its own thing, and people can’t even recall what that actor was plugging. That might be funny for a while for those actors and their agents, but long term, money talks, and being on talk shows is about the quid pro quo of plugging a movie or show. Fallon’s element is to be skit oriented, and not really play up the interview aspect. If he follows the talk show model (which he will have to in order to survive long term), he will come off as awkward and ultimately out of his element.

2a. His monologue, as compared to Kimmel (and old Leno and Letterman) is weak, lacking confidence, and often not objectively funny. Johnny Carson set the model, and as Letterman eulogized about him. “Johnny would tuck you in at night.” Not sure that Fallon has the quiet confidence to tuck anyone in.

Fallon’s strength is sketch. The Tonight Show, and any of the subsequent talk shows follow the model perfected over the years by Carson. The strong monologue of timely news bits, a couple of strong interviews with guests, and perhaps a bit, and you could even throw a musical act in there. Fallon’s stuff is basically made to be piecemeal clips. It’s like having a car to part out. Long term, that really won’t fly.

jane • on Mar 4, 2014 8:31 am

Jay Leno rules. He knows how to interview his guests, and he is funny as well. NBC is really stupid for letting him go. What are they not getting? When ratings dive for Fallon are they going to cry to Leno to come back? Of course they will! I would love to see their red executive faces when this happens. Welcome back Jay! You are still the king of late night. Counting the days!